21st Century Business Herald:

We know that Xinjiang's economy is dominated by traditional industries and the region is facing challenges of industrial transformation and upgrading. How is Xinjiang promoting the development of a modern industrial system?

Erkin Tuniyaz:

Thank you for your question; I'll answer it. Xinjiang is a vast region with abundant resources, just as a saying goes: "Xinjiang's mountains all boast rich mineral resources of gold, copper and iron, while its basins have huge reserves of coal, oil and gas." Making the best use of its natural resources is crucial for fostering Xinjiang's modern industrial system and realizing its high-quality development. We are stepping up efforts in the development of a new power system, the increase of petroleum and natural gas reserves and production, the promotion of a cleaner and more efficient use of coal, as well as the exploitation and utilization of mineral resources. Through these efforts, we will create a strategic base for guaranteeing the country's energy resources and provide important support in terms of energy resources for China's modernization drive.

Next, our considerations will focus on several aspects. First, we will consolidate and enhance our competitive industries, particularly in the oil, gas, and coal sectors. Xinjiang has ranked first in oil and gas production for three consecutive years, and the first 10,000-meter-deep well in Asia was drilled in the Tarim Oilfield. Our output of synthetic natural gas converted from coal accounts for 45% of the national total, and the world's first direct liquefaction coal-to-liquid fuel project is under construction in Hami. The concept of "turning coalfields into oilfields" is gradually becoming a reality. We will step up efforts to increase oil and gas reserves and production, unleash the advanced and high-quality capacity of coal, and continuously extend the industrial chain to maximize the efficiency of every piece of coal, every drop of oil, and every cubic meter of gas. Second, we will cultivate and expand emerging industries and explore new paths for clean energy. Xinjiang has abundant wind and solar energy resources, ranking among the top in the country. In recent years, we have comprehensively developed the wind and solar energy industry chain. In 2023, our solar and wind power generation accounted for 4.6% and 7.3% of the national total, respectively; and Xinjiang ranked second nationwide in terms of newly added capacity of new energy connected to the grid. The vast Gobi Desert has transformed into a treasure land for the development of new energy and other industries. We will accelerate the construction of wind power, photovoltaic power, and other clean energy bases , promote the large-scale and intensive development of new materials such as silicon-based and aluminum-based materials, vigorously build a new type of power system, and achieve coordinated development of photovoltaics, deserts, and ecology. Third, we will transform and upgrade traditional industries to stimulate new green and low-carbon growth drivers. In recent years, Xinjiang has made great efforts in enhanced industrial foundation, efficiency improvement, and transformation and upgrading. Last year, we specifically held a conference on green industrial development and released the "100 Major Low-Carbon Technologies in the Industrial Sector." As a result, an increasing number of low-carbon and zero-carbon factories have emerged. With the continuous advancement of green production in the manufacturing industry, the traditional image of our industrial structure that is "heavy, coarse, and polluting" is gradually fading away. As you just mentioned, in spite of a greater share of traditional industries, Xinjiang has seen continuous improvements in its industrial structure. We will accelerate digitalized and intelligent transformation, strongly support enterprises in adopting new technologies and models, promote equipment renewal and process upgrading, and continuously make the manufacturing industry more intelligent and eco-friendly with higher quality. Furthermore, in the country's new round of strategic initiative for mineral exploration, 120 key mining areas have been designated in Xinjiang, ranking first nationwide. We will exert all efforts to promote the exploration, development, and utilization of important mineral resources, conduct in-depth surveys and examinations of mining sites, and strive to realize the full value of mineral deposits. We will make our own contributions to ensuring the security of China's energy resources as well as the country's important industrial and supply chains.

That's all for my introduction. Thank you.